Paul Ryan Claims Trumpcare Won’t Hurt People with Pre-Existing Conditions Even Though It Does

Once upon a time, there was a dorky congressman from Wisconsin named Paul Ryan. He enjoyed the simple things in life. The Green Bay Packers. Ayn Rand. P90X. And, I don't know, spreadsheets, I guess? Look, the point is this dude was a real dork. And this dork was the darling of the "intellectual right." As the party establishment lost control of their future to the insane and radical obstinance of the Tea Party, Ryan seemed like one of the establishment's best chances to have a real and "reasonable" (quotes very much needed) future. And then Donald Trump came and rubbed his greasy-from-constant-fast-food-intake hands all over the Republican Party and the country as a whole.

But Paul Ryan obviously stood up to him, because he's a thinking man's Republican. Hell, he reads Ayn Rand, so you know he's smart [tries and fails to stifle uproarious laughter]. Yeah, Paul Ryan didn't do that. No, he fell right in line and started carrying water for a man whom he once said he wouldn't be defending anymore after countless examples of racism and sexism. And this humiliation continues as Ryan has resurrected the failed and insanely unpopular Trumpcare bill, but in an effort to win over the human toilet water of the Republican Party Freedom Caucus, he actually made it worse! Namely, there is a provision in the plan that would allow states to opt out of protecting their citizens with pre-existing conditions, so long as they provide a "high-risk pool" for those citizens to join. Only problem? Those high-risk pools will make premiums go the way of a young George W. Bush and get way too high.

Wow. I was wrong. I guess it does protect people with pre-existing conditions. I mean, it says "VERIFIED" in all-caps—you can't just throw that on any old tweet. Plus it has a link. I bet it takes us to an independent review that will reveal how on Earth this bill that lets states opt to get rid of pre-existing-condition protection somehow protects people with pre-existing conditions.

Oh, no. It just takes you to his own website. Don't worry, guys, Paul Ryan has verified that Paul Ryan's apparent lie about Trumpcare is definitely true.

Okay, quick breakdown:

VERIFIED: The MacArthur amendment protects people with pre-existing
conditions.

Seems hard to claim it's verified, when you linked to yourself, bro. If I said, "I'm the best guitar player in the world" and linked to a site that just said, "Jack's the best guitar player in the world," that doesn't count as verification.

The amendment is very clear: Under no circumstance can people be
denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Well, that sounds good. Go on.

Current law prohibiting pricing customers based on health status
remains in place...

If that's the end of the sentence, you might be getting somewhere...

...and can only be waived by a state if that state has chosen to take
care of the people through other risk-sharing or reinsurance
mechanisms.

Okay, so the protections are in place unlessa state decides to opt out for one of those high-risk pools that are going to fuck over a lot of people, but cut government spending. Cool cool.

Even if a state asks for and is granted a waiver, no person may be
priced based on health status if they have maintained continuous
coverage.

Sure hope you never end up in a situation where you can't afford insurance, because it'll be even worse for you!

In addition to these protections, the AHCA provides significant
resources at the federal and state level for risk-sharing programs
that lower premiums for all people.

Except experts say those premiums will go up! Once again, Paul Ryan is playing loose and fast with the truth. No one thought it could be done, but the Republicans went away and came back with an even worse version of Trumpcare—and this time, they might even pass it.

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